Stapler



Dec. 8, 1942.

c. l. WILLIEA 2,304,293

STAPLER Filed April 17, 1940 Patented Dec. 8, 1942 Carl I. Willeu, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Metal-Specialties Manufacturing" C.,lChicago, Ill., a coi-- poration f Illinois l Applicationnpril 17, `1940, serial No. 330.175,l i

Claims This `invention relates to a stapler. It is useful for passing staples through paper; tags, and other materials, and for clenching the staples. Other usesV will be apparentu- The present application constitutes an improvement upon theapplication of- Henry Ruskinf Serial No. 313,966, fortapler. An object of the invention-` is to provide a stapler of f simple and-compactconstruction which will readily' and accuratelyfeed staples into clenching-position, andlwhich is equipped with meansfor guiding the operating -pa-rtsalong -accurate lines of movement: A further object ofthe invention isc toprOVide astapler structure in which-means areprovidedffor limiting the l'movementor pivotallysupported parts while guiding thefpa-rts in the' desired alignment with the base member. A 'furtherobject is vto provide a- `stapler equipped with a `spring member having means formed'therewith for-preventing uneven expansion during the heat-treating operation. Other specic objects and advantageswill appear as the specification proceeds; l

Figure lis a longitudinal sectional view'of-a stapler embodying` my invention; Fig. 2; `a `transverse-sectional View; theA section'beingtaken as indicated-at line2` of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view of the cover casing and spring car` ried thereby,A the sectionv being taken asv indicated at -line 310i Fig. l; Fig. 4; abottomplan view; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View of the stapler with the cover removed.

In the apparatus given, A designates a base member; B, an intermediate or magazine-member; and C, a cover or driver member.

The base A is provided with downwardly turned flanges I0 forming a base; At `its forward end, it isprovided with an upwardly embossed portion I provided with a central anvil portion I2 having cam sides causing thestaples to turn inwardly into clenched position. To reinforce'the rear portion of the base A and to provide a secure anchor for the hinged portions, which will be later described, I provide a heavy metal plate I3 which is riveted to the underside of the top wall of base'A. The rivets I4 also secure a spring member I5 having an upwardly extending spring finger |552 The reinforcing plate I3 is provided with upwardly extending flanges I6 which are perforated to receive the cross shaft I'I. The sturdy flanges or supports I6 thus provide a pivot support for the pivotally` mounted upper members of the device.

The intermediate casing or magazine support B comprises a metal housing strip I8 having upwardly turned side flanges |9` and having a portion of its bottom wall cut away at to receive the platev support llanges Iii'.- AThe central p'ortion of the housing I8 is struck upwardly to form side flanges 21| .I providing al track for staples. Mounted for sliding movementl-uponthe flanges or track 2 I is a follower member V23 having downwardly turnedside flanges 23aLV and equipped at its top with a plate` 2IIA having` laterally extending arms- 25; To ther ends of the arms 25 are secured the endslof asinglev spring 23'.A The springV extends about -:an inwardly struckabutment 2l formed from 'thevmembier |82l and located atthe forward end' of the member Ill.` With this arrangement, the follower 23 is drawn forwardly so as to feed thelstaplsl'in a forward direction. l

An outer casingfor the followerZS comprises a member 28 Awhich is riveted `to the member I8, as shown more clearly finFig'. 2. The forward end of the member 28 extends upwardlyand'forwardly to provide a bifurcatedV `driver guide 29. The

member 23provides a follower sto'p 33 bridging theltwo sides of the member. It `will be noted that themember `28'is cut away centrally at 3| to enable the staples to be readily inserted uponl the track 2| and to provide access to the follower 23, s1ots'32y extending on either side of the cutaway portion 3|. By this means; the follower may be retracted substantially to the rear ofthe track 2| l to permit the insertion of` a block of staples through the open central space.` l

In orderl to `prevent the follower" member 23 from passingbelow the driver, the forward endl of the plate 2'81at the forwardY end of the central interruption 3| provides'a stop member 33*adapt ed to bridge the forward end of the member 28.

It will be noted that the bracket arms or flanges Iii-have notched portions Ita extending over the member |-8 which' permit a limited upward swinging of theplate; This* prevents the magazine housing'l'rfrom swinging too 'far upwardly and providing a space"in'whicl1` the fingers of the operator may be caught. The memberC may swing to an almost vertical position 4with the lower portionA 38`1swinging Vwithin the-"opening of the base." The' magazine member,v however, can swing onlyfashort distance upwardly; Vwith the rear portions ofits irameengagingjthe reinforcingplate 20: Ifthemagazine member Bfis' swung upwardly with force,thisjinjuresj'the pivotalcon nections about the pivot bar- I'6 and brings' about l poorvali'gnment of "the" magazine member. Means will be 'later described for preventing upward movement Aof'the magazine mem-ber so asto prevent strain' ofthe pivotal connections".

The cover CA may be of any suitable construe--Y tion: In the yillustration given,` it consists'of a top web 34 equipped with downwardly turned edge Y portions 35. The side edge portions are perfo- On its inner side, the cover member C is provided with a spring member 33, the forward end of the spring member being turned downwardly and inclined slightly forwardly to form a spring driver 40. The rear portion of the member 39 is upper portions 29 is forwardly bent so as .to pro-V vide a cam surface adapted to be engaged in the descending stroke of the spring driver 4i). The spring driver 45 flexes inwardly and in its downward movement follows closely the wall of the guides 29. It thus engages the forward portion i of the Yforward staple without contacting any portion of the next staple. The flexing of the spring member 40 insures accurate engagement with the forward staple. Even` though the supporting I parts or hingedl members should work loose in turned downwardly and forwardly to form aV spring finger 4|. The spring memberl 39 is see curedto theY top wall 34 of the member C by the rivets 42 and also by a plate member 43 which has end portions extending downwardly through openings in the wall 34 and spring member 33 and then Vbent inwardly into clenched position.

Since the member 33 is a member requiring precision in the relative position of its parts, it is extremely important that the member not warp v or change its character during the heat-treating operation. I- have found that by providing the spring member 39 with a groove 44 running along the top body portion of the spring adjacent each edge and intermediate the driver portion 4U and the spring finger portion 4|, prior' to the heattreating operation, that warping or changes in the contour of the member are avoided. The grooves 44 are stamped along each edge of the spring .39, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, while the metal is relatively soft. It is found that the ribs during the heat-treating operation maintain the spring parts in precisely their original condition. Thus, thespring may be assembled in the device without fear of the driver or any portions of the spring being out of position for effective operation.

In order to guide the pivotally mounted member B'with respect to the base A and at ajpoint well forward of the pivot I strike from the lower portion of the plate I8 a pair of lugs 45 which extend through openings 46 in the top plate of the base member A. The lower portion ofthe lug 45 isturned rearwardly to provide a stop member 41 adapted to engage the top wall of the base plate A to prevent separation of the members B. f

Operation In the operation of the device, the cover member C is raised, this movement being permitted by the opening 38 in the base A, which opening receives the rearwardly extending portion of C. The raising of the cover C exposes the interior Yof the magazine member C, and loading of the magazine may be accomplished by rst retracting the follower member 23. The fingers of the operator may draw the follower rearwardly readily by engagement with the upwardly extending finger arms 25. After the follower 23 has been withdrawn to the rear portion of the track 21|, a block of staples, cemented together as in the usual manner, may be dropped into the Vspace 3| upon the track 2|. The follower may then be released'so as to draw, under the influence of spring 26, the block of staples forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1. again be withdrawn to its rear position and another block of staples inserted into the space 3|,

The follower 23 may' time, the spring mem-ber 40 will be sure to follow the desired path because of the play allowed by the spring and of the flexing of this member after Vengaging the` cam surface of guides 29. After the magazine has been lled as above described, the cover C is closed to the position shown best in Fig.V l, and paper sheets or other members 54 may be inserted above the anvilV |2. The member B provides a limited area Vabove the anvil for receiving papers to be joined. It is-held against vertical movement by engagement with the notched flanges Ita, and thespring |5a normally holds it in raised position. Likewise, spring 4| holds the cover' C normally in the partially raised position, illustrated in Fig. 1,' with the spring driver 4D just above the guide29. y

In the stapling operation,` the cover C is pressed downwardly, causing the members B and C to move downwardly as a unit and bringing member B into engagement with the base. The ydriver 4G then engages the foremost staple and presses it downwardly as the member C swings downwardly.

In this position, the staple is driven home, thev Yward and away fromV the base A by the lugs 45 which extend vthrough the slots 46 in the-top wall of base A. Thus, the driver is brought into accurate alignment with the anvil i2. At the same time, the user isY preventedfrom pulling the member B forcibly away from therbase plate A and thus destroying the rear pivotal connections thereof with the base A, by reason of the stops 4l carried by the lugs 45. In practice, if a staple should become wedged in the machine, or, if it is desired to'open the cover, there is a tendency for the inexperienced operator to pull upwardly on the member B, grasping this member rather than the cover member C. The lugs 45 prevent disengagement of the member B andA transmit the force against the top wall of base A where no injury is done, ratherthan at the pivotal connections at the rear. of the base.v

In the assembling of the apparatus, the provision of the grooves 44 in the spring member 39 insures that the member, after heat treatment, retains its former position and the same is assembled readily without requiring a testing or special operation of the device after assembling, Y f' f While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth certain details of structure, it will be understood that such details are stated for the purpose of illustration and that changes therein may be made readily by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofv my invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus ofv the character set forth, a base equipped with an anvil, a magazine member pivotally supported thereon, and a cover member pivotally supported upon said base and in telescoping relation with said magazine member, said magazine member being provided with means for supporting staples, said cover member being provided with a driver adapted to engage the foremost of said staples, and guide lugs carried by said magazine member and extending through slots in said base for guiding'said magazine member in its movement toward said base, said guidelugs being equipped with stop members adapted to engage said base to limit upward movement of said magazine member.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth,a longitudinally extending base member equipped at one end with an anvil and at the other-end with a pivot support, a longitudinally extending magazine member having one end mounted upon said pivot support and the other end provided with a staple opening aligned with said anvil, and guide lugs carried by one of said members engaging means in the other member for guiding said magazine member in its movement toward and away from said base member, said lugs being positioned at a point intermediate said anvil and said pivot support, said guide lugs being equipped with stop members preventing separation of said members beyond a limited arc.

3. In apparatus of thecharacter set forth, a base equipped with .an anvil, a magazine member pivotally supported thereon, and a cover member pivotally supported upon said base and in telescoping relation with said magazine member, said magazine member being provided with means for supporting staples, and la heat-treated spring member having a body portion equipped with longitudinal grooves and secured against the top wall of said cover, said spring member `having a downwardly turned forward end providing a driver for staples and having a downwardly extending rear portion providing a spring normally separating said magazine member from said cover member.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, a base equipped with an anvil, a magazine member pivotally supported thereon, and a cover member pivotally supported upon said base and in telescoping relation with said magazine member, said magazine member being provided with means for supporting staples, and a heat-treated spring member secured to the top wall of said cover member on the inner side thereof, said spring member having the portion adjacent said top wall equipped with longitudinally extending grooves, the portion of the spring beyond said grooves being turned downwardly and forwardly to provide a driver and the portion of the spring at the rear of said grooves being turned downwardly and forwardly to provide a spring finger normally urging said magazine member and said cover member apart.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth, a base member providing an anvil, a magazine member pivotally supported at one end upon said base, said magazine member being provided with means for supporting staples and being movable toward said anvil by a means for feeding a staple against said anvil, and a pair of guide lugs carried by one of said members and extending through a pair of slots in the other of said members, said lugs being secured at one end to one of the members and being turned at the other end to provide a stop member preventing separation of said base and said magazine members beyond a predetermined point. A

CARL I. WILLE. 

